The Tampa office of Fisher Phillips, LLP announced that Christine Howard has been named regional managing partner. She takes over from Steve Bernstein who has held the position for the past three years. The two have rotated the position over the past decade.

“I look forward to continuing the strides we have made in strengthening our relationships with businesses not only in Tampa, but in Florida and throughout the country,” said Howard. “This office is growing steadily with talented new attorneys and I am delighted to take over as regional managing partner and further position us to handle any labor and employment law needs for our clients and other businesses.”

Fisher Phillips Chairman Roger Quillen said, “We are grateful for Steve Bernstein’s strong leadership in Tampa, and his success in expanding and solidifying Fisher Phillips presence in this region. We know that Christine will be equally successful as she takes the reins, and continues to build on the excellent reputation the firm has earned for outstanding service to our clients and the community.”

Howard has been with Fisher Phillips since 1990 and also serves as the co-chair of the firm’s Women’s Initiative and Leadership Council (WILC). She focuses her practice on the defense of employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation complaints, wage and hour litigation, and employee leave-related complaints. Howard has significant experience with claims brought by classes of employees, including the defense of employers in collective actions filed under the Fair Labor Standards Act and class actions brought under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

In addition to litigating matters on behalf of employers, Howard conducts workplace investigations, compliance audits, and management training. She also counsels employers on preventive measures to avoid or reduce employment-related claims, including issues arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

She is AV-Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, Florida Super Lawyers and Georgia Super Lawyers.

She is admitted to The Florida Bar and The Georgia Bar, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh District, U.S. District Courts for the Middle, Southern and Northern Districts of Florida, and the U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia. She earned her undergraduate degree from Emory University and her law degree from Emory University School of Law.